It has all the features you would expect in a modern fully-fledged Unix computer operating system, including true multitasking, virtual memory, shared libraries, demand loading, shared copy-on-write executables, proper memory management, and TCP/IP networking.
Linux was first developed for 32-bit x86-based PCs (Pentium 386 or higher). These days it also runs on the Compaq Alpha AXP, Sun SPARC and UltraSPARC, Motorola 68000, PowerPC, PowerPC64, ARM, Hitachi SuperH, IBM S/390, MIPS, HP PA-RISC, Intel IA-64, DEC VAX, AMD x86-64 and CRIS architectures.
Linux is available at no-cost by downloading from the internet, or at low-cost by purchasing "distributions" packaged as sets of CD's, and then installing linux on your computer. You can keep your existing operating system and software by adding a 2nd hard drive for Linux and installing it in a "dual-boot" mode. You can also obtain some versions of linux packaged to run directly from the bootable CD, and not even have to install it on your PC. This is makes it easy to "try it out". Then, you can install it to a hard drive, if you decide to use it long-term.
Linux is easily portable to most general-purpose 32- or 64-bit architectures as long as they have a paged memory management unit (PMMU) and a ported version of the GNU C compiler (gcc). Linux has also been ported to a number of architectures without a PMMU, although functionality is then obviously somewhat limited. Many of these applications are as "embedded operating system" software in handheld devices, telephones, set-top boxes, automobile smart controllers, etc.
Last Update: June 26, 2004
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